New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-10-30
STEWARDS BODY.
SAFE NOW IN THE CATHEDRAL CRYPT.



MS book just issued and entitled Recolectons OF
New-York Chief of Polcen extracts from which
published elsewhere i'm THE TRIBUNE to day. devotes
chapter to history Of the robbery of the grave Of
A. r. Stewart and an account Of the effort TO
the body, and the final success Of the endeavor
The narrative opens with the exclamation MY
God uttered by rank Parker, the assistant sexton
Of old ST. Marks Church, an hour after dawn one
wet and glootoy Wednesday in November, 1875" when
he discovered that the body had been stolen Parker
summoned Sexton Ham who fastened to Judge Hi
tons house with the news
"The vault mas been robbed, sir Mr.. stewards body
has been taken away. sorry" This was thirty
months after the burial Judge Hilton called on SUI
perinendent Walling and the famous search Tor the
body begun Inspectors Murray and Mlks were
put the case. On the following morning reward
of 900 offered by Mr. Hilton at Mrs stewart
direction for the of the body and for information
which would lead to the conviction Of the guhy per
sons. A liberal reward offered even for in1orma
ton
A LAWYER named General Patrick H. Jones, Of No15o
Eassau-st called Mr.. Wailing, processing 10 nave
information which he would impart on proper en-
couragement." Judge Hilton, the writer says, De
cared that he would pay one cent for MT Stew
art bones unless they came accompanied py inc
thieves in irons" Jones next produced cofhnpiac
said to have been sent from Boston The engraver
recognized It as the very one" which had been on
Mr. stewards coffin. Mr. Walling went 10 Boston and
found that package containing the plate had been
left by a lady muiicd up to her eyes" But no
further information In that direction was obtained The
robbers next sent piece of paper that eXactiy heu
hole which had been cut In the velvet cover Oh inc coh
Sexton Ham now has this and the coffin plate remains
at Police Headquarters.
THE EXACT STORY TOLD FOR THE FIRST TIME
The exact story of the recovery Of the body Mr..
walling next says he tells for the first time IL Is
set down as being narrated by gentleman IN a po-
sition to know the facts.' Judge Hilton had remained
firm In his determination not to compound felony
rs he expressed it. but Mrs. stewards nights became
almost epless with anxiety
"She we'll nigh driven nsane' Correspondence
with the robbers therefore resumed but no trace
of the body of the thieves found until General Jones
called at Police Headquarters. The writer goes on:
lie brought with him parcel and showed me the
The handles belonging to the coffin in which the GSa
had See d aTS Sy Dnored to have been
written in Canada and signed by Henry G.:
w " s r e o act Attorney
for the return of the body, upon the payment Of
$3.50, 900.
ALETTER DESCRIBING THE BODY.
The letter purported TO give an exact account OF
the theft of the BODY at midnight on November and
Its being taken In grocer's wagon to graveyard at
One hundred and-s xtethst., whence 1t was trans
ported Pittsburg and thence to Canada where 1t
was buried The letter went follows:
Except that The eyes have disappeared, the flesh IS
firm and the features as natural as the day OF INC
ntcrment, and therefore be instantly identified
piece of velvet taken from the collin. while the small
strip you will prove to be of the same piece as
that the coffin
This letter explaining how General Jones had come
In possession Of the piece of paper contained also
suggestions relative TO the use of personals" In daily
newspaper of this city by which to carry on negotia
tons. The cofiinplatc to be sent in answer to
certain form of personal. The personal was inserted
and the answer signed by Romaine,' purported
TO come from Boston
FIRST TERMS OF COMPROMISE
Another personal was inserted by Mr.. Jones, who
again wrote to Romaine" agreeing finally to act as
counsel and saying that Judge Hilton anxious TO
recover the body. Then the following demand was
made ON ROmaine's" part through Jones:
l. The amount 10 be paid shall be 5000, 900.
.. The body will be delivered to yourself and Judg,
Hilton within twentyf miles Of the city of Montreal,
3. The money to be placed in your hands or under
your control unt Judge Hilton is fully satisfied, when
4. Both parties to maintain forever an unbroken
silence in regard 10 the transaction;
These are the first last and only terms which will
Having communicated the contents of this letter to
Judge Hilton sou will await Ids decision.
Judge Hilton refused the terms and declined TO have
anything more to do with personals" Komainc7
then ordered Jones TO close negotiations with Judge
Hilton and open them with Mrs. Stewart No notice
taken Of the request but Judge Hilton next made
an offer of $4,000 for the body. "Romaine7 ere
specially but firmly declined the Offer This closed
the CORES pOndence.
MRS. STEWART OPENS NEGOTIATIONS.
Mr. Walling concludes the narrative follows:
But the distracted widow and her relatives without
her account. The lawyer was still the medium
of communication with the ghOuls. Fooled in their
discouraged. and now, instead of expecting 100000
willing TO dispose Of their dreadful booty for half
Mrs stewart. after wal,cful night, gave orders to
have the offer accepted but her representatives oD-
fofu rod ciou0 f e. %
they agreed TO pay. The conditions Of the delivery
were made quite severe those which accompanied
tho negotiations for the return Of Charley Ross. The
criminal, declined to take any chances They did not
In a leathcn bag without any guarantee, but the man
with the money had 10 surrender hiinsef absolutely
into the hands Of the robbers, trusting 10 their
IIc was to leave New-Yorls city az 10 c'cock at
ght alone i'm a onchOrsc wagon and drive into West
chester County along lonely ROAD which the robbers
Indicated a map which they sent marked. Some
time before morning. if the acting In good
faith and was not accompanied or followed hy de
tectvcs be wond be met and given further directions
MEETING THE ROBBERS At MIDNIGHT.
young relative Of Mrs. stewart undertook the
hazardous Grand a'd drove out into the country.
Two or three times during the night he became certain
.ha. no wa closely watched, but it wa 3 O'Clock
when a masked holseman rode up, gave tho signal
Agreed on ana turned the buggy up lonely lane. The
strange visitor here left him, directing him TO drive
na. AT the end OF another mile he became aware
chat another wagon blocking the way lie
paused. A masked man promptly appeared and
brought forward lag TO his buggy, saying, " Hero
lis where'- the money ~
"Wlicic l. the proof Of IDENTITY asked the mcsSen-
ger. as the bag containing the mortal remains Of A. T.
kfcwart was If cd into the buggy
Here - said the other holding mp an Irregular bit
of velvet aud opening bulPcyc lantern upon II with
a click The piece was compared with bit Of paper
NJ no ,amc shape which the Newly OrkcT Lad brought
with him to this lonely spot.
Come hurry up ~ was the command
The messenger boy Obcycd by producing the money!
and the robbers retired few feet and counted by
The LIGHT of their Lantern. Then they moved of with
their vehicle the messenger Of Mr. Stewart drove
back the way he had come, glad TO escape from such
company. - . ,,
The next night freight car went out 10 Garden
GJty cont aiming nothing except trunk. ana on II sat
the man who had spent the previous night In the
ionclIcSf mart of Westchcsicr County An empty
coffin had already been deposited I'm the Cathedral.
and al the dead of night 1--WE men transferred tho bones
hey he